The Governor of the Province of San Juan, Marcelo Orrego, led the central ceremony for Mining Day at the International San Juan Mining Exhibition. Before a national delegation and fellow members of the Copper and Lithium Roundtable, the governor emphasized the strategic role of the provinces and their resources in the global energy transition. The event featured figures such as Presidential Secretary General Karina Milei and members of the national cabinet.
By Panorama Minero
The Mining Day celebration, held during the International San Juan Mining Exhibition organized by Panorama Minero, was attended by Minister of Justice Juan Bautista Mahìques, Minister of the Interior Diego Santilli, Secretary Coordinator of Energy and Mining Daniel González, and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Martín Menem. Also participating were host Governor Marcelo Orrego, along with the governors of Catamarca, Raúl Jalil; Córdoba, Martín Llaryora; Jujuy, Carlos Sadir; Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo; and Santa Fe, Maximiliano Pullaro.
“The time to invest is now to transform certainty into opportunities” was the governor’s message to the business sector that filled the exhibition grounds and the Velodrome where the main event took place.
During his speech, the head of the San Juan executive branch reviewed the history of mining in the province, describing it as “a true State policy sustained since the 1980s.” Orrego stressed that while the administration values economic diversification and the importance of local agribusiness, “mining currently represents more than 80% of the province’s exports, consolidating itself as the main driver of its productive structure.”
One of the highlights of the speech was the recognition of joint work with governors from the region. The governor underscored the importance of the Copper Roundtable, a coordination space created to promote a mineral that the world urgently demands today. According to Orrego, “Argentina possesses an undeniable geological capacity, considering that a large portion of the world’s reserves of this metal are located along the shared section of the Andes mountain range.”
Orrego linked local mining potential with international challenges related to connectivity and decarbonization, explaining that “the transition toward renewable energy is an unavoidable path for Argentina,” while emphasizing that “the province is not only awaiting metal mining development, but is already leading in clean energy, being the country’s main producer of photovoltaic power, with generation far exceeding its own consumption.”
On the political and economic front, Orrego praised the measures adopted by the national administration to stabilize the macroeconomy. He highlighted that “the creation of a favorable business climate, together with legal certainty and the implementation of the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), are fundamental tools to transform natural resources into concrete long-term investment projects.”
Referring to recent parliamentary decisions regarding the Glacier Law, the governor stated that “these political decisions, together with the elimination of currency restrictions, provide the framework of certainty necessary for mining provinces to showcase their potential to the world.” In his words, “the State must be a modern facilitator that enables the arrival of capital in an environment of mutual trust.”
Regarding the social impact of the activity, the governor was also emphatic in demanding “that mining translate into a real improvement in the quality of life of communities.” He stated that “while profitability is a legitimate objective for companies, the priority of this administration is to ensure that such growth generates quality employment and strengthens the local supplier value chain throughout the territory.”
In a conclusion marked by political pragmatism, the San Juan governor expressed his wishes for the success of the national administration, stating: “For the nation to do well is a necessary condition for the development of each province.” His final message was a direct invitation to the private sector to accelerate investment processes, taking advantage of the window of opportunity offered by the international context and the new regulatory framework.
The presence of governors from both mining and non-mining provinces with strong industrial development reinforced the idea of a regional bloc with common interests. For Argentina, the consolidation of this mining hub represents one of the country’s most genuine sources of foreign currency and a historic opportunity to position itself as a key player in sustainable mining in the 21st century.
Finally, the governor left a statement summarizing his administration’s vision for the future of mining in the province and the region, assuring that “the time to invest is now to transform the certainty we have built into opportunities.”
